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A qualitative study of selected micro-organisms in geophagic soil from Qwa-Qwa

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dc.contributor.advisor Theron, M.M.
dc.contributor.advisor Van Rensburg, C.
dc.contributor.advisor De Smidt, O.
dc.contributor.advisor Ekosse, G.E.
dc.contributor.author Smit, Nellie Jacoba
dc.contributor.other Central University of Technology, Free State. Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences
dc.date.accessioned 2014-10-18T16:49:53Z
dc.date.available 2014-10-18T16:49:53Z
dc.date.issued 2011
dc.identifier.uri http://hdl.handle.net/11462/165
dc.description Thesis (M. Tech.(Biomedical Technology)) - Central University of technology, Free State, 2011 en_US
dc.description.abstract The existence of geophagia from as early as 460 BC up to now, makes it relevant to investigate all aspects related to geophagia. Geophagia is a direct route for potential transmission of pathogens to the human host, through the ingestion of soil. Soil-borne diseases in humans are causing growing concern as sewage disposal, which involve sewage sludge and waste water drainage from these plants, is on the increase. It is estimated that approximately seven million tons of sewage sludge is produced annually and that 54% of this sewage sludge is introduced into soil. Data on enteric infection in humans caused by contamination from soil is limited and need further investigation. The aim of the study was, therefore, to collect information on the microbiological presence in geophagic soil in the Qwa-Qwa district. Objectives included the collecting of information regarding various sampling sites in the Qwa-Qwa district and also soil samples sold by vendors, investigation of the prevalence of known human pathogenic bacteria and fungi in geophagic soil, investigating the culturability of Salmonella enteritidis in geophagic soil in comparison with the viability of these organisms in soil for long periods of time, investigating potential antimicrobial activity of geophagic soil, as some of the geophagists are convinced that the geophagic soils have medicinal properties, and to determine the microbial diversity of geophagic soils, which can not be accomplished by conventional microbial culturing methods. en_US
dc.format.extent 1 568 061 bytes
dc.format.mimetype application/pdf
dc.language.iso en_US en_US
dc.publisher Bloemfontein : Central University of Technology, Free State
dc.subject Central University of Technology, Free State - Dissertations en_US
dc.subject Geophagy en_US
dc.subject Soil microbiology en_US
dc.subject Pathogenic bacteria en_US
dc.subject Clostridium en_US
dc.subject Pathogenic fungi en_US
dc.subject Dissertations, academic - South Africa - Bloemfontein en_US
dc.title A qualitative study of selected micro-organisms in geophagic soil from Qwa-Qwa en_US
dc.type Thesis en_US
dc.rights.holder Central University of Technology, Free State


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